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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Exercising- Lessons Learned

One of the things I'm very in-tune with is how I learn. I can read something and it doesn't stick. I can hear it. I can say it. But when I WRITE IT....then it tends to stick in my brain. So I'm going to keep a running list (pun intended) here on this blog post of the lessons I've learned from my running, biking and general "working out".

I've been TECHNICALLY running since I was in the Marine Corps back in the 80's though I've only become relatively serious about running, mountain biking and working out on a regular basis in the past couple of years. Like most middle-aged men I have come to the realization that I'm not this guy and that if I don't start working out soon (and stick with it) I'll end up being this dude. So I started back with a few activities that I enjoy and try to do them on a regular basis. Here are some things I've learned:

1. Donuts and coffee are not fuel for running. Yesterday (July 30, 2013) I ate a donut and had an iced coffee at 4:00 and then went running at approximately 6:00. About 4 miles into my run my body quit. I mean quit. I was mentally ROLLIN' BABY!!! But physically my body said, "Nah, you're done. Walk home." So I had to walk 2 miles back to the showers. I tried running several times on that two-mile walk back and it was always the same thing. I had no fuel. Lesson learned.

2. Mountain biking - Look ahead on the trail. If you look a foot in front of your bike you will crash. Seriously.

3. The weakest link in my regimen is not my equipment, it's me. Let me tell you what I mean. The reason I shoot golf poorly is not my clubs, it's me. I could buy expensive clubs and still suck. I could buy a $8,000 mountain bike (Here is one I like) and I'd still ride like a dude that's 45 and only been riding for 6 months. I have basic running shoes but buying really expensive ones aren't going to get me off the couch.

4. Running: You have to stretch properly and you have to have good shoes. I wore some shoes too long and didn't properly stretch for about two months. During that time I developed plantar fasciitis. Now I get to deal with that for a couple of months.

5. Long bike ride coming up? Put in the miles beforehand or your butt will be sore. Trust me!

1 comment:

#3 should be any one of a number of things I've seen you learn while I'm around... Not to argue with a drunk Irishman on Marta; if you go fishing with me I'm gonna catch more fish; there are always places to keep your little Debbie's safe; do not grill in the kitchen; and for heaven's sake, don't open a body shop.